Contents Editor’s Welcome 2 AAJS 2018 Conference Information Update 3-4 AAJS 2018 Conference Registration Form 5-6 AAJS 2018 Conference: Meet Co-Convenor Associate Professor Aviva Freilich 7 AAJS 2018 Conference: Meet the Keynote Speakers 8 Jewish Perth: A Profile 9-12 Workshop Report: “Why the Holocaust: Teaching the Next Generation”, Sydney Jewish Museum, 2 November 2017 11 Upcoming Conferences & Calls for Papers 13-14 Recent Books of Interest 15-17 Call for Submissions, AAJS Newsletter No 69 17 Editor’s Welcome overview of the community. The piece “Jewish Perth: A Profile” outlines the history As 2017 draws to a close, for students the and development of the Perth Jewish academic year is coming to an end and the community and its most famous institutions, delights of summer stretch out as far as the and details the sorts of facilities Jewish eye can see. Congratulations to all our student visitors can expect on their trip over for the members for making it through another conference next year. semester – here’s hoping that your hard work has paid off in your results, and As always, we also include reports back from congratulations to those for whom important Jewish scholarly events and details Graduation Day has finally come! For those of of new books in the discipline. You will also us less fortunate, the research clock never find information about other upcoming events stops ticking, and the season of annual and opportunities of interest to Jewish reviews, writing and conferences rolls around scholars. again. At least we have the sweet smell of On behalf of the AAJS Committee, I would like latkes in the air to console us! to wish all our readers a belated Chag On the subject of conferences, registration is Chanukah Sameach! Hoping you enjoy this now open for the 2018 Australian Association edition of the AAJS Newsletter – looking for Jewish Studies Conference, to be held at St forward to seeing you in Perth! Catherine’s on Park in Perth, Western Jennifer Creese, Editor Australia. More information, including a School of Social Science, University of registration form for the conference, is Queensland included in this newsletter. The AAJS 2018 Conference is delighted to be Your AAJS Committee consists of: able to host some outstanding keynote President: Prof Ghil'ad Zuckermann speakers to address and inspire delegates: ([email protected]) Professor Alexandra Ludewig of the University Vice-President (NSW): Dr Jan Lanicek of Western Australia, Reverend Dr Lynn ([email protected]) Arnold of St Barnabas College, and Professor Vice-President (VIC): Dr Anna Hirsh Jaky Troy of Sydney University. In this issue, ([email protected]) our keynote speakers are profiled, and are Membership Secretary: Nathan Compton delighted to share their thoughts on the ([email protected]) conference with our members. After profiling Treasurer: Marilynne Mill convenor Professor Seth Kunin in our last ([email protected]) newsletter, we are also delighted to be able Journal Editor: Dr Vicky Schinkel to offer an interview with co-convenor ([email protected]) Associate Professor Aviva Freilich from the Newsletter Editor: Jennifer Creese University of Western Australia, on how the ([email protected]) planning for the conference is going as the Dr Michael Abrahams-Sprod, Emeritus date draws closer, and what conference Professor Suzanne Rutland OAM, Dr Myer attendees can look forward to at the Samra, Dr Miriam Munz, Dr Anna conference and during their visit to Perth Rosenbaum, and Professor Seth Kunin also serve on the committee. As many of our members will be, by and large, unfamiliar with the Perth Jewish community, we have invited a contribution from Associate Professor Aviva Freilich and Rabbi David Freilich OAM to provide an interesting Conference 2018 Information Update Halacha and academic analyses of Jewish rituals and practices. Even Jewish Mystical speculation is largely presented in a rationalist mode. Hasidism is perhaps the primary exception to this pattern; this is specifically found in the Baal Shem Tov's rejection of the basis of the rabbinic system of his time, with a concomitant focus on emotion rather than reason as the fundamental basis of religious experience. Arguably, HaBad has provided a mechanism for moving Hasidic discourse back towards emphasis on reason. Geography, particularly Zion, has been a By the Rivers of Babylon: Memory, consistent focus for memory and emotion Emotion and Jews expressed in longing. This trope is first expressed in the quotation from Psalms, it is The 30th Annual AAJS Conference 11- also the heart and power of the poetry of 12 February 2018 Yehuda HaLevi. The importance of place is the St Catherine’s on Park, 2 Park Road heart of modern Zionism, and is one of the Crawley most significant motivators in modern Jewish life and thought. This Australian Association for Jewish Studies ALL WELCOME (AAJS) conference, to take place in Perth, Conference Registrations are now open (see the Registration Form in this newsletter) Western Australia on 11-12 February 2018, seeks to redress the absence of these tropes Earlybird Rates, Student/Pensioner Rates in the understanding of Jewish practice and and One or Two Day Rates available law, as well as exemplifying its importance in By the Rivers of Babylon: Memory, Emotion aspects of Jewish thought and historical and Jews experience; it also seeks to provide a forum for wider discussions of memory and Psalm 137 is perhaps the paradigmatic text for emotions as they touch on all aspects of the interplay of memory and emotion in the Judaism. construction of both Jewish history and the Jewish self. The psalmist lays the groundwork AAJS 2018 Perth, entitled "By the Rivers of for the depiction and understanding of exile, Babylon: Memory, Emotion and Jews", will and provides the paradigm for over 2000 provide a trans-disciplinary forum for years of fears, anxieties, hopes and addressing perspicaciously both memory and aspirations, which for some culminates in the emotion -- both providing a basis for establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. challenging and understanding their This paradigm corresponds with the messianic implications. It also seeks from the opposite hopes, which emphasize the optimistic future direction to reassess our understanding of rather than the tragic present or past. Judaism by resorting to general theories of memory and emotion. We hope While memory and emotion have shaped the that AAJS 2018 Perth would act as an discourse about the Holocaust, and equally epistemological bridge, as an antidote for become significant reference points for parallel discourses surrounding Memory, reading Jewish history as a whole, they, Emotion and Jews. particularly emotion, have been relatively de- emphasized in both rabbinic discussions of Papers will look at the theme from any angle: for example psychological, linguistic, philosophical, anthropological, theological, musical, political, biological, historical, cross- cultural. Papers on other topics will feature too. Conference Conveners: Professor Seth Kunin (Curtin) and Associate Professor Aviva Freilich (UWA) Above: St Catherine’s On Park Conference Centre, the AAJS President: Professor Ghil'ad Zuckermann location of the 2018 AAJS Conference, Perth. Source: St (Adelaide) Catherine’s On Park Conference Committee: Dr Jan Láníček, Dr Anna Hirsch, Dr Vicky Schinkel, Professor Emerita Suzanne Rutland OAM, Dr Michael Abrahams-Sprod Follow the conference online, join the conversation, keep up to date with new announcements and share you’re your networks, colleagues and friends: https://www.facebook.com/events/12000570 36736986 By the Rivers of Babylon: Memory, Emotion and Jews The 30th Annual AAJS Conference 11-12 February 2018 St Catherine’s on Park, 2 Park Road Crawley REGISTRATION FORM First Name: Title (please tick): ☐Professor ☐Assoc. Prof. ☐ Dr Surname: □ Mr ☐ Ms ☐ Rabbi □ Rev Address: State: Postcode: Phone: Mobile Email: Conference Fee: Includes registration, entrance to all sessions, program, booklet of abstracts, morning and afternoon tea, two lunches, conference dinner and AAJS membership. Please place the tick in the appropriate box. All conference meals will be vegetarian. If you need to have strictly Kosher food please tick this box ☐ (We can only guarantee Kosher food if advised by 12 January 2018) Registration type (Whole day registration includes lunch) (Please tick) EARLY BIRD Registration Until 12 January 2018 ☐ Two Days $260 ☐ Two days – Student / Pensioner $130 ☐ One day $175 ☐ One day – Student / Pensioner $87 FULL Registration From 13 January 2018 ☐ Two Days $280 ☐ Two days – Student / Pensioner $140 ☐ One day $195 ☐ One day – Student / Pensioner $100 ☐ Individual session(s) $20 each ☐ Conference Dinner (Sunday night) $20 CONFERENCE PAYMENT Payment may only be made by personal cheque, Visa or MasterCard. 1. Cheque: If paying by cheque, please make your cheque payable to Australian Association for Jewish Studies and post with your completed registration form to: The AAJS Membership Secretary Nathan Compton 15 Wyattville Drive West Hoxton NSW 2171 Australia 2. Credit Card: If paying by credit card, please send your completed registration form to Nathan Compton via email to: [email protected] OR alternatively, you can organize payment via telephone: +61406 177 301 MasterCard [ ] Visa [ ] Credit card number: / / / Expiry Date: / Cardholder’s Name: Total Amount: AUD$ Signature: (Note that a surcharge will be added to payments by credit card: 2.25% - Standard Visa, Master Card; 3.25% - Premium Visa, MasterCard) Please note: entry to the conference will be restricted to members and/or participants who have fully paid for entry (no exceptions). For more information contact Aviva Freilich Honorary Fellow UWA Law School +61 8 64882840 or Professor Seth Kunin Curtin University +61 8 92663064 [email protected] AAJS 2018: Meet the Co-Convenor Western Australia Law School. In my career, I’ve been mainly interested in consumer law Last issue we interviewed AAJS 2018 and introduced to the law school an elective Conference Convener Professor Seth Kunin, to law unit on consumer law.